Claxton, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Claxton is a city in Evans County
, Georgia
, United States
. The population was 2,276 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat
of Evans County
.
The town had its visionary, W.R. Hendricks. In May 1890 there were only a couple of dwellings scattered around the area that is Claxton. W.R. Hendricks, son of Glenn and Nancy Hendricks, had been given a large tract of land by his parents. The Hendricks' ambition was to secure a railroad station at the site but they met considerable opposition from railroad company officials who maintained that existing stations in the area were sufficient to meet the needs. W.R. Hendricks made a proposition to railroad officials that a well be dug and pump installed free of charge so that trains could stop for water. The deal was made and actual construction began in the latter part of June 1890. The vision of building a town was fully supported by his mother who offered to give a lot to anyone who would erect a building upon it. A number of people accepted her offer so she revised the plan and proposed to sell one lot and give the adjoining parcel to those who desired to build.
With the establishment of a town well underway, efforts were begun to establish a post office at the settlement already widely known as Hendricks. Postal officials in Washington, D.C., upon receiving an application from George E. Wood, declined to approve the name Hendricks because a post office in the state was already operating under that name in Upson County
. Two other names were then submitted, Jenny and Claxton. Postal officials agreed to Claxton and the post office opened in 1890.
There is some dispute about the origin of the name. Some local historians contend that the name of a popular actress, Kate Claxton
, was the source while others believe it was in honor of Philander Priestly Claxton
, a noted educator of the time.
Shortly after the Claxton post office opened, D.C. Newton, one of the partners in a naval stores company, laid out on a sheet of brown wrapping paper what became the original map of Claxton. Newton drew in the streets, laid out lots and later added street names. The whereabouts of the original map is not known; however, it is believed that this first map remained in his possession until his death and was passed down to his son who died in the 1990s. Another map, believed to be similar to the original, was in the possession of R.R. 'Bobby' Tippins, president of Tippins Bank and Trust Company and descendant of the family that founded the bank in Claxton, who died in the early 2000s.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 2,276 people, 899 households, and 567 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,457.2 people per square mile (563.3/km²). There were 1,032 housing units at an average density of 660.7 per square mile (255.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 57.03% White, 39.59% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 2.42% from other races
, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.56% of the population.
There were 899 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples
living together, 23.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 77.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 66.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,705, and the median income for a family was $26,450. Males had a median income of $30,500 versus $14,718 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,742. About 34.4% of families and 35.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 49.6% of those under age 18 and 27.7% of those age 65 or over.
. (See fruitcake
.)
fell in Claxton and hit a mailbox. The mailbox sold for $83000 because it is said that it is the only meteorite to have struck a mailbox. The meteorite is also classified as a L6 meteorite.
Evans County, Georgia
Evans County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Georgia in an area known as the Magnolia Midlands within the Historic South region. A bill creating the county was passed in the Georgia General Assembly on August 11, 1914, and later, on November 3, 1914, an...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,276 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Evans County
Evans County, Georgia
Evans County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Georgia in an area known as the Magnolia Midlands within the Historic South region. A bill creating the county was passed in the Georgia General Assembly on August 11, 1914, and later, on November 3, 1914, an...
.
History
The petition to incorporate the town of Claxton was approved by Tattnall Superior Court in April 1894.The town had its visionary, W.R. Hendricks. In May 1890 there were only a couple of dwellings scattered around the area that is Claxton. W.R. Hendricks, son of Glenn and Nancy Hendricks, had been given a large tract of land by his parents. The Hendricks' ambition was to secure a railroad station at the site but they met considerable opposition from railroad company officials who maintained that existing stations in the area were sufficient to meet the needs. W.R. Hendricks made a proposition to railroad officials that a well be dug and pump installed free of charge so that trains could stop for water. The deal was made and actual construction began in the latter part of June 1890. The vision of building a town was fully supported by his mother who offered to give a lot to anyone who would erect a building upon it. A number of people accepted her offer so she revised the plan and proposed to sell one lot and give the adjoining parcel to those who desired to build.
With the establishment of a town well underway, efforts were begun to establish a post office at the settlement already widely known as Hendricks. Postal officials in Washington, D.C., upon receiving an application from George E. Wood, declined to approve the name Hendricks because a post office in the state was already operating under that name in Upson County
Upson County, Georgia
Upson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is a part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area . It was created on December 15, 1824. As of 2000, the population was 27,597. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 27,562...
. Two other names were then submitted, Jenny and Claxton. Postal officials agreed to Claxton and the post office opened in 1890.
There is some dispute about the origin of the name. Some local historians contend that the name of a popular actress, Kate Claxton
Kate Claxton
Kate Claxton was an American actress, born Kate Elizabeth Cone at Somerville, New Jersey to Spencer Wallace Cone and Josephine Martinez. She made her first appearance on the stage in Chicago with Lotta Crabtree in 1870, and in the same year joined Augustin Daly's Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York....
, was the source while others believe it was in honor of Philander Priestly Claxton
Philander Claxton
Philander Priestly Claxton was an American educator.-Biography:Philander Claxton was born in Bedford County, Tennessee. He was educated at the University of Tennessee where he obtained both his Bachelor and Masters of Arts . He continued his studies at Johns Hopkins University, as well as in...
, a noted educator of the time.
Shortly after the Claxton post office opened, D.C. Newton, one of the partners in a naval stores company, laid out on a sheet of brown wrapping paper what became the original map of Claxton. Newton drew in the streets, laid out lots and later added street names. The whereabouts of the original map is not known; however, it is believed that this first map remained in his possession until his death and was passed down to his son who died in the 1990s. Another map, believed to be similar to the original, was in the possession of R.R. 'Bobby' Tippins, president of Tippins Bank and Trust Company and descendant of the family that founded the bank in Claxton, who died in the early 2000s.
Geography
Claxton is located at 32°9′39"N 81°54′31"W (32.160932, -81.908674).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,276 people, 899 households, and 567 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,457.2 people per square mile (563.3/km²). There were 1,032 housing units at an average density of 660.7 per square mile (255.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 57.03% White, 39.59% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 2.42% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.56% of the population.
There were 899 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 23.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 77.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 66.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,705, and the median income for a family was $26,450. Males had a median income of $30,500 versus $14,718 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $12,742. About 34.4% of families and 35.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 49.6% of those under age 18 and 27.7% of those age 65 or over.
Claxton Fruit Cake
The city is known as the home of the Claxton Fruit Cake which is exported from the world-famous Claxton Bakery and The Georgia Fruitcake CompanyThe Georgia Fruitcake Company
-History:The Georgia Fruitcake Company was founded by Ira S. Womble, Sr. of Claxton. Womble began his career in the bakery business as an apprentice to Savino Gillio-Tos, the founder and owner of The Claxton Bakery, where he worked alongside Albert Parker, the future owner of the bakery and the...
. (See fruitcake
Fruitcake
Fruitcake is a cake made with chopped candied fruit and/or dried fruit, nuts, and spices, and soaked in spirits. A cake that simply has fruit in it as an ingredient can also be colloquially called a fruitcake. In the United Kingdom, certain rich versions may be iced and decorated...
.)
Claxton Meteorite
On December 10, 1984, a MeteoriteMeteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
fell in Claxton and hit a mailbox. The mailbox sold for $83000 because it is said that it is the only meteorite to have struck a mailbox. The meteorite is also classified as a L6 meteorite.